Cap for flexible tubes



Nov. 30 1926.

07 H. HOSMER CAP FOR FLEXIBLE TUBES Filed Sept 27, 1924 Patented Nov.30, 1926.

UNITED STATES OBVILLE H. KOSHER, 0] 8'1. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

on 102. r'mxnsm TUBES.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,311.

By way of explanation, it may be stated that in the opening of tubes ofthe kind in' which tooth paste and other materials are contained, it isnecessary for the operator to hold the tube in one hand and detach thecap with the other hand, work thus being provided for both hands of theoperator The foregoing being understood, this 1nvention aims, generallystated. to provide a tube and a closure which are so constructed thatthe thumb or one of the fingers of the hand which is holding the tube,may be used to open the closure, the other hand of the operatorremaining It is within the province of the disclosure to improvegenerally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to whichthe invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described anddelineated in the drawings, it being understood that it is impossible toshow all forms which the invention ma the scope of what is claimed, amechanic may make changes in the form selected as an illustration,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawingsz- Figure 1 shows in sideelevation, a devicecomrtructed in accordance with the inven-. tion, parts being brokenaway, and the clo-.

sure being in section; Figure 2 is an elevation wherein the device isviewed at right angles to the showing of Figure 1, parts being brokenaway; Figure 3 is a top plan; and Figure 4 is a section through thehinge lug on the tube.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates a flexible tubeof the kind in which tooth paste or other merchandise is contained. Thetube 1 has a neck 2 having a circumferential shoulder 3. The top 4 ofthe tube or container 1 is supplied, near to its edge, with anupstanding lug 5 having seats 6 in its sides.

The device comprises a'cup shaped closure 7 adapted to fit closely onthe neck 2. Slits 8 extend upwardly from the lower end of the closure 7and define resilient tongues 9,

adapted to grip the neck 2 of the tube 1 and to engage with the shoulder3, to hold the closure securely but releasably on the neck 2. Acompressible gasket 10 is secured in the closure 7 and is adapted toengage the end of the neck 2 of the tube 1, to prevent leakage. Theclosure 7 is provided adjacent to its outer end with a circumferentialgroove 11.

The closure 7 is mounted on the tube 1 through the instrumentality of ahingedly constructed carrier which is denoted generally by the numeral12. The carrier 12 may be constructed as desired, but in the presentformof the invention, it is made out of a piece of spring wire, bentupon itself to form a loop-shaped handle 14, the side per,- tions of thehandle being crossed upon each other as at 15, to fashion arcuate jaws16 received in the groove 11 of the-closure 7. One of the jaws 16 isprolonged to form an arm 17, and the other of the jaws is prolonged toform an arm 18, the arm 18 having y an open loop 19 engaged about thearm 17. take, and it being understood that, within- The arms 17 and 18terminate in inwardly extended pivot fingers 20, received in the seats 6of the lug 5, the carrier 12 thus being mounted hingedly on the tube 1.I

In practical operation, the arms 17 and 18 of the carrier 12 are bowedas at 21, and are put under spring tension, the closure 7 being seatedon the neck 2 and the spring tongues 9 engaging the shoulder 3, as shownin Figure 2. The operator holds the tube 1 in his hand, and swings thecarrier '12 upwardly.

bv thumb pressure exerted'beneath the ban I dle 14, the tongues 9 of theclosure 7 being disengaged from the shoulder 3, and the carrier 12tending to straighten, and to fly to an open position, because the arms17 and 18 of the carrier are resiliently bowed as at 21. Owing tothefact that the arm 18.is provided with the open loop 19 engaged aboutthe arm 17, the jaws 16 may, be separated for mounting in the groove 11of the closure 7.

Having thus described the invention, what" is claimed is tacle. having aneck, a closure the receptacle, the carrier being fashioned ing theother, the arms terminating in means from a single piece of materialformed into for engaging the. receptacle hingedly.

a loop-shaped handle, the sides of the han- In testimony that I claimthe foregoing 10 dle-being crossed on each other and being as'my own, Ihave hereunto afiixed my sig- 'lprolonged to form arcuate jaws engagingnature.

the closure, the jaws being extended to form arms, one of which has anopen loop receiv- ORVILLE H. HOSMER. I

